IN BRIEF

THE EUROPEAN Commission is set to propose halting imports of US beef after a study found that more than 10% of all American imports contained banned growth-promoting hormones. A spokesman for Farm Commissioner Franz Fischler said that he would recommend a ban to a meeting of EU veterinary officials next week.

European Voice

4/21/99, 5:00 PM CET

Updated 4/12/14, 4:33 AM CET

EU governments have agreed to amend the Union's banana import regime following the World Trade Organisation's ruling that the system still breaks trade rules, despite a series of modifications last year. Acting Trade Commissioner Sir Leon Brittan said this week that the EU had decided not to appeal against the ruling because 12 out of 15 member states were opposed to such a challenge. The WTO this week approved US plans to impose sanctions on EU exports worth 180 million euro until the Union falls into line with WTO rules. The EU will, however,

contest a US bid to backdate the sanctions to 3 March.

THE Commission announced this week that it would take Denmark to court over its ban on the use of metal drinks cans. Danish environmental authorities claim the law encourages people to use more environmentally friendly packaging such as glass bottles, but Acting Environment Commissioner Ritt Bjerregaard argues that the measure violates the EU's packaging waste law.

DENMARK and Finland are seeking an exemption from EU plans to close financial markets on 31 December to avoid potential problems caused by the Millennium Bug. EU finance ministers from other member states endorsed the plan at their informal meeting in Dresden last weekend.

THE EU has suspended some sanctions against Libya in recognition of Tripoli's agreement to hand over the two Lockerbie suspects for trial. Union governments will decide whether to wind up the sanctions permanently after examining a United Nations report expected in 90 days.

GERMANY'S energy tax, former Finance Minister Oskar Lafontaine's most concrete legacy, has won the Commission's approval. In a surprise move, given previously stated worries about the number of exemptions to the tax conceded to industry, the Commission "decided not to raise any objections".